The Burned Tower

by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko

A truck driver on a lonely stretch of road, a hitchiker, and an ancient curse—"The Burned Tower" is a brilliant and moving tale, steeped in folklore, by the masters of modern fantasy, Sergey and Marina Dyachenko. In 1999, "The Burned Tower" was awarded the "Interpresscon" as the best short story of the year on the international SF-convention in St-Petersburg. Includes a sample chapter of The Scar.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Russia, Horror, Ebooks, Mystery

59 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Марина Дяченко
Marina and Serhiy Dyachenko - co-authors of novels, short fiction, plays and scripts. They primarily write in Russian (and in the past also in Ukrainian) with several novels translated into English and published in the United States. These include, Vita Nostra (2012), The Scar (2012), The Burned Tower (2012), Age of Witches (2014) and Daughter from the dark (2020). The primary genres of their books are modern speculative fiction, fantasy, and literary tales.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up everything I can get my hands on from Sergey and Marina Dyachenko, I feel like one of those snotty fans of obscure niche bands who pride themselves on being a fan before the band was "discovered." The Dyachenkos are big names in Russian SF&F, but thus far have only three works translated into English: Vita Nostra, The Scar, and the short story/novelette The Burned Tower.

The Burned Tower was originally written in 1998, but has recently been translated and published by Tor. (You can download it for free: go get it!)

The tone, and even aspects of the story, reminded me a great deal of Vita Nostra. An innocent young man named Guy, working as a truck driver transporting beavers (!) has an unfortunate encounter on the road, resulting in him having to take on board a sinister hitchhiker. This hitchhiker seems to be a classic Trickster figure, but it soon becomes evident there is another theme in this story, of punishment and forgiveness, as Guy is brought to a place where once a terrible crime took place.

The story straddles the line between dark fantasy and horror. As with the full-length novels I've read by the Dyachenkos, there seems to be a lot going on beneath the surface and it's not always fully explained. They like teasing the reader with the dark undercurrents of a psychological thriller and mixing in a fantasy element. The whole thing is quite a mind trip.

Because of its length, I was a bit unsatisfied; it felt like perhaps an early draft of Vita Nostra, with ideas developed more fully in that book. But it's still a moody piece of dark fantasy unlike anything you are likely to find Western writers writing today.

If you found my reviews of The Scar or Vita Nostra intriguing, go download this 50-page freebie and see if you like it. If you enjoy it at all, I guarantee the Dyanchenkos' two (translated into English) novels are much better. I am hoping to see more of their extensive body of Russian-language fantasy translated into English, so I can say "I was a fan before they became big in the U.S...."

[Marquise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dyachenkos are often hard to follow and prone to convoluted plotlines, but you can't say they don't deliver the surprises! This one looked like a mainstream roadtrip story in which the main character, Guy, disobeys every mother and granny's recommendation to not take in strangers hitchhiking in sketchy roads, especially not strangers that can spell anything with a suspicious flute; and then... it all unfolds and you end up reading something different than you expected.

I can never guess their endings, which is good for me. And I like that they manage to touch serious topics, such as forgiveness and redemption, in a way that's not preachy nor mawkish, because of the weird way they handle their plots.

[Kateblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don't look at the reviews before I write one, but I did this time, and I see that my feeling that this was a folk tale seems to be what others felt, also. It's good, but I just didn't get that sucked in to it or care about the MC very much.

It's free at Amazon, so you try it. Your mileage may vary.

I really loved one of the Dyachenkos' books recently, and I will continue to read any that get translated.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second piece I've read by Maryna Dyachenko and Serhiy Dyachenko. The first being Vita Nostra, which I loved (or I did once I'd sat on it long enough to figure out what the heck was going on). The Burned Tower didn't disappoint either. It's a creepy, modern folk tale using familiar mythical creatures to tell a thought provoking story of redemption and forgiveness.

There is a fairly lyrical quality to the writing that only has a tendency to fall apart on occasion. However, I strongly suspect this lies at the feet of the translator or is simply a failure of two languages to smoothly transition from one to another. Either way, it's a pleasure to read.

My only real complaint is that a lot was left unsaid. The reader is given enough hints to suspect things, but not always enough to know things. No doubt, this is purposeful on the authors' part, but as a reader it can feel a little unsatisfying.

I'm fast becoming a committed fan of this duo. The only English translation of their work that I haven't read yet is The Scar, but you can bet it's on my To Be Read list (toward the top even).

[Fred Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a little long to be a short story and way too short to be a novel. It is okay, but I did not like it nearly as much as Vita Nostra. It is a sort of contemporary fairy tale that eventually gets around to forgiveness and its importance. The chief moral: if you meet the Pied Piper trying to cadge a ride, run!

[Metaphorosis · Rating 3 out of 5]

reviews.metaphorosis.com

3.5 stars

Guy, driving through the forest to deliver caged animals, stops by the side of a road deep in the forest. There, against his better judgment, he picks up a passenger who has the look of the folkoric Piper he's been warned about. As he feared, the trip gets complicated.

There's no question this story is Russian. Translated by one of the authors, it has the sound and the feel of recent Russian SFF, which gives it a wordy, slightly exotic feel in English. It's a bit strange that a Russian story revolves around a Pied Piper figure, but it works nonetheless. It's well written, moves smoothly, and deals nicely with some weighty moral dilemmas - avoiding both superficiality and heavy-handedness.

The main flaw of the story is simply in its length. It would have been more effective as a shorter story, and not lost anything by it. Still, it's a pleasant sampler of what the Dyachenkos can produce, and worth picking up (free, by the way).

[Jeff Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not prepared for how good this story was and really it is closer to 5 stars. The use of the character of the Pied Piper seems quite strange from Western eyes, maybe there is a more developed Russian folklore involving him. Still though the story had a nice blend of folklore/fantasy and horror and as a short story was very satisfying in telling the story and not feeling cheated by only 30 or so pages.

This short story was released for free and contains a chapter of the next novel to be released. This is smart business sense since I will really want to read it.

[Miguelular · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cicadas only ever listen to themselves

Interesting story odd and unusual. Mayhap some parts were lost in translation but overall not bad. Good for a short story.

[Ellison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly translated. No credit is given for a translator on the free kindle edition. Google?

[osoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Славный парень по имени Гай попал в затруднительное положение, а появившийся вовремя Крысолов предложил ему сделку: мол, поможет он парню, если тот пообещает довезти его до города. И поостеречься бы Гаю, ведь какие только страшилки не рассказывают о Крысолове – но нет, не отвертеться ему от сделки. И вышло так, что ехать им пришлось через Пустой поселок...

«Горелая Башня» погружает в темный омут, толща болотной воды начинает давить на затылок с первых же секунд погружения. Дикая ситуация, в которой молодой фольклорист встречается с самым ярким представителем этого самого фольклора, и не знает, чего от того ждать, обмирает со страху, однако разглядывает своего попутчика с интересом. Страшные сказки и давние предания, проклятый Пустой поселок, странные сны и опасный Крысолов – сам себе на уме, вроде бы жестокий судья, а вроде и проглядывает что-то еще за всем этим. Да, флейтист так и остался загадкой для меня. Когда в книге есть место удивительному и не понятному до конца персонажу, это замечательно.
Лейтмотив о всепрощении прошел мимо меня, хотя общая идея воплощена прекрасно, она предлагает сделать простому смертному выбор, который, казалось бы, доступен только богам. Но опять же, в целом повесть ничего не потеряла от того, что я сосредоточилась на деталях, пустив тему прощения (прежде всего самого себя) фоном. Удивительная ведь история, закольцованная на самом Гае.. но не для сегодняшнего дня.

Историю о Крысолове я готова читать в любом виде, в любой даже самой нелепой интерпретации, потому что это одна из тех сказок, от которой каждый раз бегут мурашки по коже, но и оторваться от нее невозможно. И чем страшнее, изощреннее и жестче получается у авторов показать Дудочника, тем большее воодушевление у меня вызывает погружение в эти истории.
К Дяченкам я отношусь с обоснованной опаской, что вызвано ранним знакомством с Vita Nostra. Но, в конце концов, если после чтения произведений автора меня еще месяц-два глючит – это совсем не значит, что его не стоит читать вовсе. Просто надо делать разумные перерывы, чтобы предыдущий опыт в голове утих и можно было погрузиться в совершенно новую историю без сопутствующих опасений.
И снова спасибо рулетке, которая в этом туре выдалась удивительно мощной в плане открытий; на этот раз она раскрутила и закинула меня в новый мир. Уже второй случай, когда я возвращаюсь к ранее отвергнутым авторам по наущению госпожи Фортуны (первым был Мураками), и снова попадание в точку. Дудочник + Дяченки = роскошество.

annikeh.net

[Mia Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergey and Marina Dyachenko are solidifying themselves as some of my favorite authors. Their writing has this wandering, lyrical quality to it (even when their editors--at Tor, really, guys?--let them down) that you don't know where the story is taking you and you don't care, you're just glad to go along for the ride.

As shorter fiction does to me, this one left me a touch more confused about everything that was going on...but then, so was the main character, so that may have been on purpose. I still really enjoyed it.

It didn't get 5 like "The Scar" did because (like between Koryta's "The Ridge" and "The Cypress House") there wasn't that *something* in "The Burned Tower" that spoke directly to me. Egert's fear and everything that came with it spoke to me in the "The Scar," plus as longer fiction, it allowed for more build-up to an ending that I still remember with gasping awe.

So, this one is still very good, and I'm definitely going to be keeping my eyes out for more of their work being translated. I already have "Vita Nostra" and am very much looking forward to it.

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I adored this. That's kind of shocking, since I haven't loved something I've read in a very long time. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since this book is the product of the authors, who wrote The Scar, which I also loved.

It was a bizarre little story, but I liked how it was just unapologetically weird. I also admit that I was completely absorbed in the raw emotionality that the Dyachenkos are so good at delivering. (Even in translations from the native language, so kudos to the translator as well). It helps get me caught up in what's happening, so much that I was almost one hundred ebook pages in when I looked to see how much I read, and was shocked and disappointed that I was almost done.

Overall, I really need to read more from these authors, because this was an awesome literary gem and now I want more.

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

An effective little modern folk tale. I wish I was more familiar with the Russian or Ukrainian sources, but they aren't necessary. I'm aware of the Pied Piper of course, but the characters seems quite different.

The story has a very strong Weird Tales vibe with a sense of suspended dread all the way to the end. I'm sure something was lost in translation, but this was still very creepy throughout, and the themes of loneliness and guilt come through. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but one aspect that worked very well was the very generic, unspecified location. Even before Guy meets The Piper, it wasn't clear to me where or when any of this was taking place. Even the translation of the protagonist's name to 'Guy' added to that sense of dislocation.

I wasn't familiar with the Dyanchekos, but from the strength of this story I've added The Scar to my to-read list.

[H. P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burned Tower is, like the Dyachenkos’ wonderful The Scar, essentially a fleshed-out fairy tale. Unlike The Scar, it’s a novella, not a full novel. This one leans on an existing tale familiar to Western readers—the Pied Piper. Set in presumably modern times, a college student driving a van full of beavers for delivery decides to cut a deal with the Pied Piper when he loses a valuable beaver (who better for rodent retrieval?). Of course he gives more than he bargained for.

The Dyachenkos are Ukrainians who write in Russian. Their books have only recently begun to be translated and published in English. As for The Scar, the translation here is readable and poetic. Let’s hope both trends continue!

The Kindle version also includes a preview of The Scar.

[Shannon Mawhiney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because it's a translation from Russian (and well done, but still pretty obviously a translation), I do feel that I maybe missed some of what the story was trying to say. Despite this though, I enjoyed it. The Piper was unearthly and creepy (and exactly how I imagine someone of his supernatural persuasion would act), and poor Guy's story weaves from being about an average schmo driving a delivery van to a series of questions about heaven and hell, life and the afterlife, reality and monsters, and even time.

I will definitely be keeping these authors in mind for future reading.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute, short and enjoyable little story. Though to be frank, the inclusion of The Pied Piper was completely superfluous.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really know what to think of this one. The Pied Piper is here and has taken an interest in Guy, the protagonist. The talk is interesting, but some of their conversations are confusing. Especially that of Guy's background. The lead up to the climax is good, but the outcome is lost on me. Guy is saying he forgives everyone but the Pied Piper tells him he has to mean it. He says it a couple more times and then everyone goes away. I didn't realize that was the curse being broken, but the conversation afterward implies that much. So, I guess he does forgive everyone, but I missed that. I thought he was still just saying it.

Story would have been 3 stars if I'd properly understood the ending. Nothing wowed me, but it was good reading.

[Yanique Gillana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

An atmospheric, sinister, short but intense story.

I often say that I am tired of reading retellings of the same fairy tales when there are so many other stories and folklore elements up for grabs. This was the perfect example of that. The Pied Piper is a well known story that I really never expect to see referenced, especially in such and interesting way. I loved this! This short story managed to encompass so many years and so much rich background, while maintaining a good pace and atmosphere throughout.

Not much can be said about the story itself without giving too much away, but I highly recommend this for fans of dark fantasy and short fiction.

[Tbfrank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be an excellent tale for George Saunders to add to his master class on Russian literature in A Swim In A Pond In The Rain.

As in all folktales, The Burned Tower moves rapidly and inevitably from an idyllic to a creepy setting. Like other stories from the Dyachenko team, there is lots to wonder just what this is all about. There is the Pied Piper analog – is this about temptation and greed? Is it perhaps an allegory on mass movements, prejudices whipped to a frenzy unleashing destruction? A siren song that mesmerizes until the unthinkable becomes reality? A belief system that treats all opposition as evil to be destroyed? A horror and fear so strong all memory of the past has been lost and doomed to be repeated? Can forgiveness exist without also forgetting?

I’m shelving the Dyachenko volumes right next to those by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vita Nostra was significantly more comprehensible than this (free, unrelated) short story.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fable - I think - and I have never been good at figuring out the meaning of a fable - unless it's as plain as the nose on your face and this one was not.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing but I felt there were some things alluded to that I never figured out.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a -very- good novella of modern folklore/sort-of-horror. Bravi!

[Ekmef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out this short story is available for free on the website of the Dyachenkos. It was a lovely read but I think I wouldn't recommend it too people who have never read their work before.

[MostMagenta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I didn't finish this short book, I was reasonably enjoying it. I just honestly do not have the time to finish it, hence the reason that I typically use audio books.

[Biblioworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Как и всегда у Дяченко - приятное чтение, скорее про чувства и ощущения человека.
Но все же мне показалось существенно слабее прочих их вещей.

По объему это скорее рассказ.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow I didn’t realize this was a short story!
But i enjoyed it.

[aj · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eerie, modern retelling of the Pied Piper with elements of mystery and mysticism. The translation is quality but it remains a difficult read; it's so thick with symbols I imagine it's a challenge to even fully absorb the original.
That said, it's still enjoyable even at the surface level. The writing, even translated, is gorgeous, and the imagery is darkly whimsical. Dyachenko effectively sustains an atmosphere that is ominous and dreamy with the feeling if one were trudging through a thick mist, especially as memories are depicted fading and flashing through consciousness.
There's a horrific aspect to it too. Nevermind the Pied Piper's original tale, there are many gruesome scenes throughout this novella, and the I couldn't help but to feel the plot advancing steadily toward certain doom. So, while I remained unimpressed by the climax (which was indeed horrific, but came off too melodramatic for me), I was pleasantly surprised to find the story end on a hopeful note.
But the ending wasn't enough. Like too many short stories, The Burned Tower asks questions it doesn't bother to answer (For example, Guy openly wonders about the nature of the curse, how the persecutors were punished, and where did they go...to which the Pied Piper literally says, "Don’t ask stupid questions. That’s not for you to know." Perhaps it's just to emphasize how we'll never truly understand how karma and afterlife works, if they exist at all, or perhaps it goes to imply it doesn't matter. Or perhaps I'm just dumb. I dunno; the latter is often the case haha. Like I said, this is a challenging read.); in any case, it doesn't feel complete. I had difficulty identifying with Guy throughout the story actually, but at the conclusion we were one and the same: still bewildered, not quite satisfied, and left hanging. (Well, not really. He did wind up thanking the Pied Piper, having come to terms with his past and all, and he did secure a glimmer of hope that suffering be mitigated. Still, that didn't settle it for me.) Keeping the possibilities open can be satisfying, but it was overly done here in my opinion. I'd like to know why the Pied Piper concerned himself with this particular case. I'd like to know if it were all, indeed, were just a dream. (Which I would be highly disappointed by, but still, I'd like to know.) Heck, I'd like to know what on earth was the morbid beast that was not a woman but a "but a blind tube, looking like the stump of a snake’s body and a bag of skin with a cluster of thin, jointed tentacles that had so believably simulated black human hair"--but then again, this is fantasy, so it may not be on earth at all.
That's right. This is fantasy. So how much explanation should I ask of it anyway? Perhaps it would be more enjoyable to not think so much, suspend all belief.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень круто! Герой совершенно наш, хоть и не канонически черный. Вот ведь как! Для хорошей вещи не обязательно тысячу страниц написать. Иногда хватает и 80. Гаю очень сопереживаешь и настроение его очень заразительно, ведь не знаешь, что ожидать от Крысолова в следующий момент. Тот мир, который тут успели показать мельком, завораживает. И хочется прочитать что-то еще, что показало его более подробно и, может быть, с другой стороны. Вот эта живность на дороге и сразу вспомнившийся пропавший водитель. И сбежавшая нутрия... Все это было подстроено. Самое потрясающее в этой истории -- это то, что она вне времени. Это все могло случиться буквально вчера, а могло 50 лет назад, а возможно, что оно еще не произошло, а будет где-то в будущем.
Интересная мысль про наказания. Я наказываю, но не прощаю. Прощает он. Все-таки интересно было бы узнать, как у них там с этим проклятьем получилось.

2019: Все те же вопросы до сих пор: Что было за наказание? Как Гай вернулся? Где все это время пропадал? Почему Крысолов за него отомстил?...
В одном была тогда не права. Крысолов все же Черный. Пестрость - это морок.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was a bit puzzling. I think it was inspired by the Pied Piper of Hamelin originally, then set in a strange futuristic setting. I don't know whether it was my lack of imagination or something lost in the translation that left me scratching my head. A hired lorry driver transporting caged animals stops to pick up a mysterious hitchhiker and things happen. Then the hitchhiker leaves. The end.

I loved their novel Vita Nostra, which earned one of the few five-star reviews I give. As a friend who read it on my recommendation said, 'It made my head explode.' Exactly. The Dyanchenko duo is still on my list of must-read writers, but I'm glad I read Vita Nova first.